In 2019, Matthew Thomas thought he was joining a Bible study group. Instead, he was sucked into Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a secretive Korean cult known for coercive control and bankrupting its members. Over the next four years, Matt lost himself and eventually became a recruiter tasked with drawing others in.

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In 2004, Jon Romano brought a shotgun to school intending to take his own life. One person was injured before he was tackled to the ground. Today, Jon reflects on the path that led him there—and what he wishes he’d told the people around him sooner.

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In 2003, Jayson Blair was a rising star in journalism, until he got caught plagiarising stories and inventing details. What followed was one of the most high-profile downfalls in modern media. In this ep, Jayson reflects on why he lied, how he got away with it for so long, and how it felt when everything collapsed.

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After Brooke Knisley fell from a tree, she couldn’t walk, talk, or remember anything—or anyone. So when a man appeared claiming to be her boyfriend, she believed him. What followed was months of manipulation, as she slowly uncovered who he really was.

This is a recent episode from our other show, The Sex That Changed My Life. Find it wherever you get your podcasts.

You can follow Brooke on Instagram here and TikTok here.

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The Cannonball Run is an illegal car race from New York to Los Angeles. In 1972, Judy Stropus entered with an all-women team sponsored by a bra company. They didn’t finish, but somehow became the most legendary team in Cannonball history. In this ep, Judy recounts the race and explains why she considers it the dumbest thing she ever did.

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Between 1974 and 1978, Ted Bundy confessed to killing 30 women. During that time, he was especially close with his cousin, Edna Cowell Martin. In this episode, Edna shares what it was like growing up with him. From small, unsettling moments, to the shock of discovering who he really was.

For more of Edna’s story, check out her memoir, Dark Tide: Growing Up with Ted Bundy.

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On August 9, 1996, the cast and crew of Titanic wrapped a long shoot with a seafood dinner. Within an hour, around 40 people (including director James Cameron) were ill. The cause: someone had spiked their chowder with a hallucinogenic drug called PCP. In this ep, camera operator Jamie Barber recounts how the night spiralled into a hospital trip… and a conga line.

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It's one of the weirdest mysteries we've encountered. On this week's episode, we speak to Brett Grimes, who was 19 when he a got a job digging a huge hole in the forested side of a volcano, with no explanation of what they were digging for. In this episode, Brett recounts the most dangerous job of his life and what they found at the bottom.

We found this story via the independent documentary The Hole Story. Stay across screenings via their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheHoleStoryMovie/

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